CCPL

Do it Yourself Book Club


Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Turnabout
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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After secretly receiving injections at the age of 100 that are meant to reverse the aging process, Melly and Anny Beth grow younger until, as teenagers, they try to find a guardian to take care of them as they return to infancy.

Discussion

Why do you think Melly keeps Memory Books?

What did Anny Beth mean by, "&if you'd lived a life like mine, you'd understand-some years you're happier to forget."?

Why did the agency want Melly and Anny Beth to come back?

Compare Melly's first life with her second. What changed?

Why does the agency forbid the project participants from seeing their families? Do you think the families should have been involved?

Why is Melly afraid of the e-mail from A.J. Hazelwood?

Melly and Anny Beth cut themselves off from the agency. Why do you think they did this?

Why did Amelia want to return to Kentucky when she was forty-five? What stops her?

Melly suggests that PT-1 should be offered to everyone. (As long as they understand the risks.) Do you think that's a good idea?

Does the story have an uplifting ending? Why or why not?

After the turnabout how did Melly and Anny Beth lead separate lives?

In our current time period it is already easy to find personal information on the internet, such as phone numbers and addresses. Do you think we will really lose almost all privacy sometime in the near future?

How do the characters in Turnabout feel about the "un-aging" process?

Based on their experiences, what are the advantages/disadvantages of growing younger?

Both Melly and Anny Beth had specific reasons for wanting to take PT-1. Discuss what they wanted to change about their past lives.

How is science helpful in our lives? Can it be dangerous, such as the turnabout was for Melly and Anny Beth?

Put yourself in the elderly Melly and Anny Beth's place. Would you have chosen to go ahead with the Project Turnabout experiment in order to be youthful again?

Did you like the author's writing style? Is there anything about the book you would change?

Would you recommend this book? If so, to whom?

Activity

Make a Decoupaged Photo Box
FromHolidayCrafter.com

You will need:

  • 7 1/4-inch by 10 3/4-inch hinged wooden box
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Paint brush
  • 4-inch by 6-inch color photocopy of a photo
  • Decoupage glue
  • 52 inches 1/4-inch wide gold braid
  • Scissors
  • 4 5/8-inch gold buttons
  • Tacky glue or glue gun
  • Varnish (optional)

What to do:

  • Cover your work surface thoroughly with newspaper.
  • Paint the first coat of black paint on the top and sides of the box using the brush. Let dry thoroughly for a few hours, and then repeat with the second coat.
  • Paint the bottom of the box next, followed by the insides of the box. Let the paint dry thoroughly.
  • Liberally brush the box top with the decoupage glue. Carefully place the photo on the box and move until centered.
  • Brush additional decoupage glue over the photo, making sure to leave a smooth surface. Let the glue dry thoroughly.
  • Cut the gold braid into 5 segments. Two segments should be 5 inches long and two should be 7 inches long to surround the photo. The remaining will go around the edge of the box top.
  • Liberally brush the area around the photo with the decoupage glue and arrange the braid around the photo, covering the lines where the photo and the black of the box meet.
  • Liberally coat the braid with the decoupage glue. Let the glue dry thoroughly.
  • Coat the sides of the top of the box liberally with the decoupage glue.
  • Wrap the braid around the base of the sides of the top of the box.
  • Coat the braid liberally with the glue and let dry.
  • Using a tacky glue or glue gun, glue the buttons onto the corners of the photo to hide the junction of the braid pieces. Let dry thoroughly.
  • If desired, varnish with a water based varnish as directed by the manufacturer once the glue is thoroughly dried.

Recipe

Sweet Sweet Mini Sundae
From RecipeZaar .com

Ingredients:

  • 1 scoop pineapple ice cream
  • 1 tablespoon fat free chocolate syrup
  • 1 cherry
  • 1 tablespoon chopped mixed nuts
  • 1/4 banana, sliced
  • 4 tablespoons whipping cream
Prepraration:

  • Slice the banana in half, hotdog style. Then cut it in half, burger style.
  • Place the banana into a cup, and place the scoop of icecream on top.
  • Spray whipcream around the icecream and banana.
  • Drizzle the chocolate syrup on the whipcream. Top it off with nuts.
  • Add the cherry on top. ENJOY!